The Opposite of Happiness is Not Sadness. It's Boredom

By Cynthia Hammer, MSW, Executive Director, Inattentive ADHD Coalition, www.iadhd.org

Strategies for Dealing with Boredom

The best strategy is to run away from boredom as often as the situation allows. Being bored makes us feel sluggish, dull, and not alive, so we must avoid it whenever possible. Here are some ideas on how to beat the boredom blues:

1. Spend some time every day doing something you love. Looking forward to something you love can carry you through the boring parts of your day.

2. Create a structure for your day. If you have planned your day, it is less likely you will sit around being bored.

3. Plan your weekend activities so Saturday morning does not roll around with you asking yourself, "What am I going to do?"

4. When you have free time, instead of falling into boredom, have a list of activities that excite you on your phone. Refer to it for making plans when a long boring weekend looms on the horizon.

5. Tell yourself boredom is a part of life, but also believe you can get through its boring moments. E.g., "Cynthia, you've got this. Do not obsess about it, and make a mountain out of a molehill. Just finish this boring task and move on to what's exciting."

6. Know that learning something new always appeals to the ADHD brain. Keep a list of topics you want to learn about—playing cribbage, making sticky buns, or becoming a better photographer. When you are stuck waiting somewhere, make good use of the time by learning something new. My fallback is the google app Arts&Culture.

7. Create a boredom pack that contains easy-to-carry activities to pursue when you are kept waiting….crossword puzzles, Sudoku, a pack of cards to play Solitaire, an adult coloring book, or a book to read or listen to.

8. Play mind games that make you more aware of your environment. How many colors can I see? How many different materials are used? How many people will enter or exit the room in the next minute? Make a guess and see if you are right. Try again and see if you can be more accurate. Create a song in your head about the boredom blues. Envision a new solution to a problem that has been nagging you.

9. If you must sit in a meeting that bores you, prepare for the meeting. Rely on unobtrusive activities to keep you engaged, such as tapping a pen on your leg, so it does not make noise, manipulating a fidget toy, knitting, doodling, or taking notes with a multi-colored pen.

At the other extreme, get engaged in the meeting. Ponder what is said. Do you agree or disagree? How else could the topic be discussed? If the presenter invites ask questions, do so. The more engaged you are with the subject, the less boring it will be.

I hope these tips help you beat the Boredom Blues.

*This article may be freely copied and distributed.